The sole focus for Miami Heat fans right now is whether the franchise will trade for Kevin Durant. There is reason to be excited about what Durant could bring to the table, and Miami would instantly become one of the favorites out of the East.
However, if history has taught us anything, just because a team pulls off a blockbuster deal doesn't mean it will pan out for them. And in the case of the Heat, if they do pull off a deal for Durant, they would have a realistic window of two or three years before the bottom would fall out, given the assets they would need to give up.
It's with that in mind that these are five notable recent trades in NBA history that did not pan out, leaving the respective franchise digging out of a hole for years to come.
Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Nets - 2013
The Brooklyn Nets thought they were set up for a massive run when they went out and traded for Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Terry. Along with a bevy of players they sent back to Boston, the Nets also gave away their 1st round picks in 2014, 2016, and 2018.
In particular, that 2016 pick would wind up getting used on Jaylen Brown.
The Nets, meanwhile, finished 6th in the East in 2014 but did win a series against Toronto before falling to Miami.
In 2015, the Nets squeaked into the playoffs in the 8th and lost in the first round.
By 2016, the bottom had fallen out, and even today, Brooklyn still hasn't been out of the first round of the playoffs since 2014.
Serge Ibaka to the Magic - 2016
In a trade that was so disastrous for the Magic that they pulled the plug less than a year into the experiment, Orlando traded away Victor Oladipo, Ersan İlyasova, and newly drafted Domantas Sabonis to Oklahoma City in exchange for Ibaka.
By February of 2017, Orlando had traded Ibaka away to Toronto.
It was just part of a 12-year run by the Magic, where they only topped 40 wins once.
If you are keeping score at home by the way, Sabonis just averaged 19.1 points per game and 13.9 rebounds per game.
Russell Westbrook to the Rockets - 2019
In another trade that had to do a reverse course one year later, the Rockets gave up Chris Paul, and their 2024 and 2026 1st round picks, along with pick swaps in 2021 and 2025, to go get Russell Westbrook from OKC.
The payoff?
A 44-28 record in the shortened 2019-20 season, but the Rockets were bounced in the 2nd round in five games by Los Angeles in the playoffs.
Westbrook was traded away in the offseason, and Houston's next three seasons were 17-55, 20-62, and 22-60 before finally putting together a 41-41 season in 2023-24.
Bradley Beal to the Suns - 2023
One of the reasons why Kevin Durant is even in search of a new home is that his current team is a mess.
The Suns gave up four first-round pick swaps with Washington, in addition to six straight-up second-round picks.
Beal's two years in the desert have not gone great, as the Suns got swept in 2024 after finishing 6th in the West, and in 2025, they were 36–46 and missed the playoffs entirely.
The Suns are looking to blow things up and are in desperate need of assets moving forward.
Damian Lillard to the Bucks - 2023
This one hasn't been quite the disaster that these others have been, but it also has not paid off for Milwaukee and has left their franchise in limbo.
The Bucks gave up Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, and their 2029 1st-round pick in a three-team trade. The Bucks also gave Portland 1st-round pick swaps in 2028 and 20230.
And while Milwaukee won 49 games in 2024 and 48 games in 2025, they were bounced in the 1st round both times.
Lillard now has a torn Achilles, and Giannis Antetokounmpo can't actually make up his mind where he wants to play next season.